While at Art School as a teenager, my love of New Orleans
jazz sizzled it's way into my life. I've dreamt of going
there ever since.
Decades later, my dream came true. My friend, Jim, and I
arrived in the famed French Quarter just one year before
the horrific devastation of Hurricane Katrina changed the
face and feel of New Orleans, perhaps forever.
This is my tribute to the "Big Easy."
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Please
click on the picture to see bigger image!
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Getting
the feel of Mardi Gras
in October, 2004
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Musicians
hanging out in Jackson Square. And what's up with the bass
player all shrouded in white?
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King
Neptune, ruler of the seas. Where were you during Katrina?
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Jackson
Square, the French Quarter's most famous park. A steady
stream of colorful people amble around, including tourists,
psychics, artists, musicians, mimes, food vendors and a
few derelicts. Energy is high. It's not unusual to witness
a brawl in progress and a number of cops in hot pursuit.
A happening place!
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A
Jewish tribute to Holocaust victims, this marvelous sculpture
reveals different symbols as you walk around it. Did this
sculpture survive Katrina?
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Take
a gander at the enigmatic Marie Leveaux, reputedly the
most famous and powerful Voodoo Queen in the world ...
and have a psychic reading while you're at it!
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Many
masks in a Voodoo store.
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Noreen
on a windy, wild, wet day in New Orleans. So much for
the blue umbrella!
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Jim
doesn't have any better luck.
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Preservation
Hall: It's hot, sweaty and wonderful to finally experience
this authentic New Orleans Jazz.
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Expensive
restaurant adorned with traditional hanging baskets. Quite
lovely. We didn't eat here, but looked a lot, salivating!
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Example
of how the rich folk decorated their homes in the 1800's.
This home is now a museum bordering Jackson Square.
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Sketch
by Jim of jazz musicians at Preservation Hall.
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Noreen's
little sketches of some of her New Orleans imaginings.
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These
very old authentic drums in the Voodoo Museum really intrigue
me. I managed to refrain myself from playing them ...
more or less.
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Just
an average evening around Bourbon Street. I wonder if
someone dressed up as "Death" bolsters sales
at this pub. Probably!
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Voodoo
stores abound in the French Quarter. I still can't figure
out how so much "STUFF" can fit into these tiny
stores. What fun for our eye-balls.
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This
rocking chair got my attention.
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Jackson
Square has amazing mimes. Here's Noreen about ready to drop
some coins in the black box ... which then activates graceful
pirouettes from the pretty lady, who sprinkles me with fairy
dust.
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